BUTTE VALLEY — One bullpen session into her first season with the Chico Outlaws, 18-year-old pitcher Eri Yoshida is finding plenty to work on.

Yoshida still hasn’t faced live hitting — she’s scheduled to do so in today’s intrasquad game — but Japan’s first female professional player has done some side work to get herself acclimated to both her own routine and the team.

Namely, the kid likes to stretch.

“She’s a busybody. Her workouts are a little different from what we’re used to seeing,” manager Garry Templeton said Wednesday afternoon at the team’s spring training media day at Butte College’s Cowan Park. “But that’s what she spends a lot of her time doing, is stretching. She loves it. I’ll stretch out with her too a lot of the time. I’m pretty flexible.”

Yoshida’s bullpen session Tuesday was a bit unusual, both from the standpoint of its volume and that she was tinkering with her knuckleball. Yoshida threw about 100 pitches in that session, with pitching coach Wayne Franklin trying to help her speed up her arm movement to better sell the knuckler.

“It turned out pretty nice. Our catchers were a little shocked at what she had to offer,” Templeton said. “She catches on fast. I think she’s gained some respect out of the other guys.”

The Outlaws will get their first glimpse of her since Arizona Winter League action, as Templeton will turn her loose against live hitting today.

“Throwing the ball, I feel exactly the same, but I need the chance to pitch,” Yoshida said through her translator. “I want to go out as soon as I can and get a feel for the batters and a feel for my own touch. I’ve never seen this level, where the players have the power and skill they do, so there’s so much more to do.”

Yoshida will likely not be on the official 22-player roster to open the season, staying in town as Chico opens in Tijuana, Mexico against the Cimarrones. General manager Mike Marshall indicated that her first appearance will be May 29, the Saturday of the Outlaws’ opening homestand.

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CATCHING ON: The major-league experience Mike Rose has brought and early glimpses of offensive production and potential from 21-year-old Robby Alcombrack appear to be giving those two the edge in Templeton’s decision at catcher. The Outlaws currently have four in camp, and it’s unusual for minor-league teams to carry more than two unless a third can play a utility role. Alcombrack hit 10 home runs for the Frontier League’s Traverse City in 57 games last year, while Rose split time between the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Double-A and Triple-A clubs in 2009.

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WHO’S ON THIRD?: With Ismael Castro still held up in his native Colombia, the Outlaws are a little short at the hot corner through camp. They actually had held on to one option from their open tryout last week, but with Castro appearing to have the job when he arrives, the role would probably be a backup one for any challenger. Former major leaguer Bobby Hill, a middle infielder, could be an option in the interim. Shortstop has also been somewhat of a question mark, with rookies Pascual Del Real and Jerry Madueno having seen most of the time there.

“We’re still trying to find it on (the left) side,” Templeton said. “When the third baseman’s not in the country yet and nothing’s really set at shortstop either, you’re looking to get those things filled in.”